CSA refund problem

SarahNeedle1872

Hi, this is a question on behalf of my parents....

My step dad was supposed to stop paying the CSA last Sept for his daughter, as she left full time education (she was 19). His ex contacted them and said to stop collecting the payments from his wages. They continued to take the money to the tune of just over £1k, altho his ex never recieved any of it! After many phone calls, the CSA admittted they were wrong and said they would refund the money via a cheque. Four months after they said this, and many phone calls later, theres still no cheque, even tho they keep promising they will 'put it in the post this week'.

What can my parents do next? Is there anyone they can contact to complain? Or can they claim the money via MCOL? Any help would be gratefully recieved

Sarah
x

kelloggs36

I would put the request in writing and send it recorded delivery and copy it in to the Complaints Resolution manager so that it is also registered as a formal complaint. Two days after posting, check online for the details of the letter - when it was delivered, who signed it etc, then ring the CSA and speak to the Accounts team dealing with your case and ensure that the matter is being dealt with. Get the person's name and ask for the date on which the cheque will be sent to you (I know they have already lied, but this will be in response to your letter) In the letter, acknowledge the fact that they have already admitted fault, and that you can see absolutely no reason why it should take in excess of four months to make a refund. Give them 14 days in which to pay and then tell them that you will be approaching your MP to act on your behalf. Contact your MP and they will write to the CSA as well, and usually get much quicker results than you for some reason.

kelloggs36

The other thing he could do is to get him to ask the payroll department at work to contact the CSA and ask if they still need to make deductions. As they don't hopefully the CSA will tell them so and will arrange to stop any further money being deducted which will help in the mean time whilst the refund is being sorted out.

SarahNeedle1872

kelloggs36 wrote: »

The other thing he could do is to get him to ask the payroll department at work to contact the CSA and ask if they still need to make deductions. As they don't hopefully the CSA will tell them so and will arrange to stop any further money being deducted which will help in the mean time whilst the refund is being sorted out.

I think they have stopped deducting now, it's just trying to get the baglog repaid....

Mr_Green_Genes

SarahNeedle1872 wrote: »

I think they have stopped deducting now, it's just trying to get the baglog repaid....

Don't forget to claim the interest as well. It's maladministration, they owe you.

SarahNeedle1872

Mr_Green_Genes wrote: »

Don't forget to claim the interest as well. It's maladministration, they owe you.

What rate of interest should they claim?

Mr_Green_Genes

It would be the rate of interest you would have got had you had the money yourself. From memory, when claiming for loss of interest on bank charges (see elsewhere all over this website!!) the default rate is 8%. However, be prepared to be realistic.

More importantly, if you went into overdraft, or incurred any other charges, you should claim the lot.

The principle is that you should be put in the same position you would have been had not the staff at the CSA been so utterly useless and caused the maladministration in the first place.

Go for it!!!

jimbo4468_2

to calculate what interest is owed try going on websites that are for reclaiming bank charges.. these have a calculator to work out the intrest owed..remember it is taken for every payment made not the total amount so you could be owed much more than you think..